When does The Circle launch?

The 75-minute season premiere will be broadcast live on Channel 4. It will then be on every night at 10pm until the game comes to an end. There will also be a live show on Friday that is 90 minutes long.

Who will appear on the show?

The first contestants of this year’s series are yet to be revealed. As in the show last year, players will join The Circle as via the social media platform as the show progresses.

How does the show work?

During the show, “players” move to a refurbished block of flats in London where they live for the duration of the series.

Each of the contestants lives by themselves, and can communicate with each other via their social media profiles on platform The Circle.

This allows them to portray themselves as anyone, or in anyway, they want to.

Most of the players in the 2018 series decided to be honest with the other contestants, although some of them did catfish the others by altering their ages, what they did for a living, or even pretending to be an entirely fabricated character.

The players are then asked to rank each other out of five, before their cumulative scores are listed as averages from highest to lowest.

The top two players become “influencers” while the others face the prospect of being “blocked” and eliminated from the competition.

The final showdown sees contestants rank each other one last time, and the highest ranked player wins.

The viewers at home are also asked to select their winner.

Who won the last series of The Circle?

The first series was won by Alex Hobern, a 26-year-old internet comedian, who joined The Circle claiming to be a 25-year-old woman called Kate. He used pictures of his actual girlfriend, Millie, to deceive the other players.

A revival of Amazing Stories, executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, and original shows produced by Oprah Winfrey, are also in the offing.

Original content is king

Unlike Netflix, the focus of Apple TV+ is on original content, rather than providing reams of licensed TV shows and films to scroll through endlessly. However, if choice is what is required, users can subscribe to other premium services and Apple TV Channels.

Most of the new series are set to launch with three episodes at a time, rolling out new episodes on a weekly basis. Some shows will be released all at once, in a Netflix style.

Descendants 3 is the third and final instalment of the movie franchise about the lives of the children of Disney villains.

It hit the small screen via the Disney Channel in the US on 2 August. More than 8.4 million tuned in to catch Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos in action.

Those figures look set to skyrocket as it finally comes to the UK this October, along with its trademark pop tunes and gripping drama.

Here’s everything you need to know.

When is Descendents 3 set to come out?

The third installation of the Disney Channel movie franchise is set to hit the small screen in the UK on Friday 11 October at 5.30pm. Dove Cameron, who plays the daughter of Maleficent, made the announcement, adding: “I cannot wait for you guys to watch it.”

What happens in it?

Don’t worry, this is a loose plot outline rather than a spoiler-fest.

Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay, the teenage children of classic Disney villains, are forced to deal with their most potent threat yet: a barrier breach that jeopardises the very safety of Auradon.

The way to tackle it, Mal decides, is to close the barrier between Auradon and the Isle of the Lost for good. However, little does she know a far darker and more deadly force lies closer to home. It is up to her and the VKs to fight to save the team, as they brace themselves for their biggest battle yet.

Who has been cast in the film?

The line-up has stayed pretty consistent with the first two films apart from one main new addition: Cheyenne Jackson (Glee, 30 Rock), who will play Hades, ruler of the underworld.

Jamal Sims also joins as The Princess and the Frog’s villain Dr Facilier, and Jadah Marie stars as his daughter Celia.

Emmerdale actor Asan N’Jie has been fired from the soap “with immediate effect” following a violent clash with Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas at an awards ceremony this week.

Show producers sacked the star after he threw punches and swore at Lomas during the TV Choice Awards in London on Monday night.

“ITV executives have met with him this morning and as a consequence Asan’s contract has been terminated with immediate effect,” a spokesperson said.

‘Out of character’

In response to his dismissal, N’Jie said his behaviour was “out of character”.

“My behaviour at the TV Choice Awards was completely unacceptable,” the actor said in a statement. “I sincerely apologise to everybody who has been affected, especially Jamie Lomas, the whole Emmerdale team, our audience, ITV, my family, and the organisers of the TV Choice Awards.

Asan N’Jie plays Ellis Chapman in Emmerdale (Photo: ITV)

“I am devastated, accept full responsibility for my actions and I am determined to learn from this.”

Tabloid sources claim that N’Jie, who was nominated for the Best Soap Newcomer award, threatened to “knife” Lomas during the encounter before the pair were separated by security. However, the reports are yet to be corroborated.

Emmerdale knife crime storyline

The character N’Jie played in Emmerdale, Ellis Chapman, was involved in a storyline about serious youth violence during which he was stabbed. Speaking about the plot earlier this year, he said he was “glad” show producers had decided to explore the topical issue.

Speaking to Digital Spy, he said: “In London, the knife crime rate is through the roof at the minute.

“So to explore a sensitive issue like this can only be a positive thing. If we put light onto these issues, hopefully the quicker it will stop.”

Producers for Hollyoaks have thus far declined to comment on the incident specifically. It is not clear how or why the ruckus came about.

First Dates Hotel is officially back open for business, and maitre d’ Fred Sirieix is on hand to help a series of new singletons find love.

This year, the luxurious Aquapetra Hotel in Campania, an hour north of Naples, will welcome guests eager to make new connections.

One such arrival may be rather more used to televised appearances and public romances than most when he appears on Thursday 12 September: Paul from S Club 7.

Bring It All Back

Paul Cattermole, 42, was one of seven members of the wholesome, bubblegum pop band who reigned supreme in the charts in the early 00s, as well as starring in an accompanying TV show about their lives together called Miami 7.

The band were managed, and largely owned, by Spice Girls mastermind Simon Fuller.

The theme song to the show, ‘Bring It All Back’, was released at the end of the season in June 1999 and shot straight in at No.1 on the UK Singles Charts. The band went on to score three more No.1 singles in the UK, and enjoyed hits in Europe and Australasia.

Paul Cattermole on Loose Women (ITV/TV Still)

However, Paul’s life now, as a middle-aged man living in Swanage, Dorset, is rather different. A single man, having once enjoyed a five-year relationship with fellow S Club 7 star Hannah Spearritt, he now performs in a nu metal band called Skua and works odd jobs to make a living. Most recently, he told The Guardian, as the manager of a community radio station.

“It was five years of my life,” he tells them. “I definitely thought, when I was 20, that by the time I was 40 it would be a done thing. And it’s not… I’ve been answering S Club questions for 20 years. It will be great – it will be bliss – to one day not have to, but it’s part of it, and I totally accept that.”

Still paying for it

Despite the fame and the success, Paul came away from the experience with very little money. His personal finances became headline fodder last year, after he reportedly sold an old Brit Award on eBay for £60,000 in an attempt to clear his debt.

He used his share from a subsequent 2015 S Club 7 reunion tour to pay off more of the money he owes, too.

Paul has high hopes that he will make an impact with viewers at home when he appears on First Dates Hotel on Thursday looking for love.

Over-the-table conversation, we’ve heard, will hinge on life as a former entertainer – and how he plans to break his past career in the spotlight with his date on the night.

Si King and Dave Myers are back with another show full of accessible and delicious culinary flavours as they embark on a life-long ambition to ride their bikes on one of the world’s most iconic road trips.

The Hairy Biker duo will take on America’s Routed 66, a 2,000-mile trail of tarmac that travels form Chicago to California.

The pair will explore the different sights, sounds and tastes of America past and present as they go, meeting local cultures and communities as they go and sampling several delicacies.

Here’s everything you need to know about it.

When will the new Hairy Bikers show be on?

The first episode of the new six-part series will air on BBC Two on 12 September at 8pm to 9pm.

The next episodes will follow that format every Thursday at the same time.

Where will they stop off at?

Expect the bikers to park up all along the famous route through the heart of the States. From Chicago to St Louis, from Native American tribes to new immigrant communities, they visit a varied cross-section of cultures.

The Hairy Bikers in Monument Valley on the Arizona-Utah Border (Photo: BBC)

They head to Texas to work with cowboys, drive through the prairies of Oklahoma, traverse the 50+ degrees Celsius Mojave Desert and swoop into Monument Valley.

They end in Los Angeles where they come face to face with some of the newer, healthier, and not so healthy food trends in town.

What can we expect from the first episode of the series?

The adventure starts on the road from Chicago, which attracted migrant workers from all over the world to its meatpacking industry.

As a result, the local dishes of the city are seriously diverse, and the bikers tuck into everything from hickory-smoked BBQ meat to a soggy Italian beef sub that sees the two adopt a position to avoid dropping bits of it onto their clean boots.

They then head down through to a small town part of America where they enjoy some retro entertainment by the side of the road before sampling a championship-winning apple pie.

The pair receive an invitation to cook with the Amish community too and learn about their technology-free way of life.

Finally, the bikers cross the Mississippi river into Missouri, where they head on to the city of St Louis. There they try out a local delicacy, Ted Drewes’ “concrete custard”, a rich, thick slab of pudding that is served upside down.

The end with the tale of the more recent migration of the town’s Bosnian community.

We’re being whisked off to the Italian countryside, where love may or may not be set to blossom for a string of star guests.

As part of a series of programmes commissioned to raise money for the Stand Up To Cancer campaign, Channel 4 has commissioned a Celebrity First Dates Hotel.

The aim of the annual event is to raise as much money as possible to fund life-saving research.

And in this special programme, manager and love aficionado Fred Sirieix will open the doors of his retreat to four famous singletons.

Here’s who you can expect to see pouring their hearts out by the pool in the near future.

Duncan James

Duncan James will be looking for love on the show (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for Diva Magazine)

Schoolgirls of the noughties will be more than a little familiar with Blue singer Duncan James, 41, who was a member of the boyband from 2000 – 2005, and again from 2009 following the band’s brief reformation. He’s also an actor, best known for playing Ryan Knight in Hollyoaks.

His turn on Celebrity First Dates will be a rather special one, as it will be the first time he appears on TV publicly as a gay man.

“I didn’t identify as a gay man for many years because of my own issues with coming out, but finally I’m happy in my skin,” James said on social media earlier this year as he posed alongside his then-boyfriend. He came out in 2012.

Ulrika Jonsson

Swedish TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson has been unlucky in love, and recently announced her split from her third husband, advertising executive Brian Monet, after 11 years of marriage.

The 52-year-old is keen to get back out there after what she describes as a bit of a sex drought. In a first person piece for the Daily Mail, she revealed she and Monet “had made love just once in nearly eight years” which, she said, was a large factor in their divorce.

Jonsson was first married to John Turnbull in 1990 but they parted ways in 1995.

She later tied the knot with Lance Gerrard-Wright, but they separated in 2006.

Pete Wicks

Pete Wicks is on the hunt for a new partner (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Towie star Pete Wicks is hardly a newcomer to the celebrity dating game, having already enjoyed public romances with Megan McKenna and his Towie co-star Shelby Tribble.

He had high hopes for his fledgling love with mum-of-one Georgina Mullins, too. However, it seems the 30-year-old’s efforts were thwarted, and he’s now on the hunt for a new partner. Could Fred and his team finally find him a match?

AJ Odudu

AJ Odudu is looking for a match on the show (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Presenter Onatejiro “AJ” Odudu is probably best known for her stint presenting Channel 5 spin-off Big Brother’s Bit on the Side alongside Emma Willis and Rylan Clark in 2013. At the moment, she hosts 4Music programme TrendingLive! with Vick Hope and Jimmy Hill.

Her appearance on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins earlier this year left viewers her tough side, as she carried 45kg of equipment on a hellish trek that saw her pass out midway up a hill. She’s relatively quiet on her romantic life, but did reveal on the show she developed trust issues after being cheated on three times by ex-partners.

Channel 4 has released a special schedule of programmes for this year’s Stand Up To Cancer campaign – and Celebrity Hunted is one of the finest offerings on the list.

The aim of the annual event is to raise as much money as possible to fund life-saving research.

Not only can viewers enjoy several celebrity-themed versions of their favourite Channel 4 shows, but they can also get their hands on fundraising packs, take part in nationwide activities and donate to the cause as they watch by calling 0300 123 4444, or texting “Thirty”, “Twenty” or “Ten” to 70404. You can also donate online at channel4.com/su2c.

During this reality TV special, four pairs of celebrities will team up to attempt the impossible and try to disappear undetected in the UK for two weeks.

And as they go on the run, a team of professional investigators from the police, the army and the secret service will attempt to track them down. Will they make it – or get caught out within hours of making their great escapes?

Here’s the Celebrity Hunted line-up in their pairs.

The I’m A Celebrity… pair

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will no doubt be covering his eyes when his father, Stanley Johnson, tries to disappear in plain site.

He was a Conservative MEP for Wight and Hampshire East from 1979 to 1984 and is a former employee of the World Bank and the European Commission – very much a Remainer.

Stanley Johnson and Georgia Toffolo, who he lived with in the Australian jungle [Photo: Getty Images]Mr Johnson, 79, appeared on I’m A Celebrity… in 2017, where he formed an unlikely alliance with former Made In Chelsea star Georgia “Toff” Toffolo.

The 24-year-old Tory went on to win the entire series. Will she have quite the same success paired with Stanley?

The TV chef couple

Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli, 63, moved to the UK from Italy in 1976 to pursue his dream in the restaurant business. He courted controversy recently for claiming that only Italian chefs should be allowed to cook in Italian restaurant kitchens.

Aldo Zilli during the Together For Short Lives ‘Nutcracker Ball’ at One Marylebone on November 20, 2018 in London, England. (Photo: Getty)

He’ll team up with Jean-Christophe Novelli, the 58-year-old French chef and heartthrob, who rose to Michelin star success having learnt his trade as a personal chef to the Rothschild family.

The pair will work together to get as far as possible without detection. Will they be able to take the heat?

The rugby duo

There’s nothing like being able to evade capture by outrunning them and tackling them to the ground, which could be a tactic sportsmen Martin Offiah MBE and Gavin Henson use when they try their hands at Celebrity Hunted.

Offiah, 52, is a former England rugby professional, who was inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2013.

Martin Offiah poses for a photo during the London Broncos Rugby League Launch at the London Film Museum on November 1, 2011 in London, England. (Photo: Getty)

Welsh Rugby Union star Henson is relatively young compared to Offiah at just 37. He was part of the Wales national team which achieved Grand Slams in the Six Nations Championship in 2005 and 2008.

Gavin Henson of Bristol Rugby arrives during the Aviva Premiership match between Worcester Warriors and Bristol Rugby at Sixways Stadium on March 5, 2017 in Worcester, England. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

The competitive pair will want to win – but will the stocky two be able to hide in plain sight?

The Towie two

Lucy Mecklenburgh, 28, and Lydia Bright, 29, made their names via reality docu-soap The Only Way Is Essex.

There were awards for the big BBC dramas too. Jodie Comer won Best Actress for her role as the unhinged assassin Villanelle in Killing Eve.

Adrian Dunbar scored the Best Actor prize for his portrayal of Superintendent Ted Hastings in cult favourite Line Of Duty, which also took home the prize for Best Drama. Meanwhile, Bodyguard picked up the prize for Best New Drama.

Lorraine Kelly attends The TV Choice Awards 2019 at Hilton Park Lane on September 09, 2019 in London (Photo: Getty)

Chris Packham controversy

Chris Packham caused perhaps the only stir of the evening when he traversed the stage to pick up an award for Best Factual Programme on behalf of Blue Planet Live.

The presenter and naturalist used his platform to renew his criticism of I’m A Celebrity… and demand that show’s producers end the use of alleged animal cruelty.

He said: “I’m A Celebrity…, can you please think about no longer abusing animals on your programme?”

The naturalist and TV presenter, who collected an award for Best Factual Show on behalf of Blue Planet Live, made a pointed acceptance speech to the audience of producers and actors present about protecting the environment by forming greener habits.

He ended his piece by informing them of one more “duty” he had to carry out – asking the I’m A Celebrity… crew to stop using animals as props for entertainment.

He said: “I’m A Celebrity…, can you please think about no longer abusing animals on your programme?”

‘Making changes takes courage’

The Sun alleges that the sound of booing arose from some sections of the audience. However, Packham himself seems not to have heard any such disquiet.

Oh dear , apparently I’ve been booed (?) at the @TVChoice awards for very politely requesting that @imacelebrity finally stop abusing wildlife on their programmes . . . I’ll be losing sleep over that then https://t.co/NmE5ACY2k5

‘Simply out of date’

“My request is motivated on several grounds; welfare, stereotyping and undermining a respect for life, which then impacts negatively upon conservation,” he wrote.

“And that it spoils the show because it’s simply out of date, some would say barbaric. And actually it’s often pretty silly too, because many viewers recognise that the species used are not dangerous, or significantly toxic or venomous in the first place.

“Or that they’ve been ‘doctored’, their fangs sealed, their jaws bound so, even under the stress they’re exposed to, they couldn’t possibly harm any of your guests.

“Surely it’s time for it to mature, for you to accept that, as pillars of the British broadcasting community, you should put an end to this inhumane, embarrassing and destructive aspect of an otherwise great show,” he concluded.

Rat killed

In 2009, ITV was fined £1,660 after contestants Gino D’Acampo and Stuart Manning killed and cooked a rat in the jungle.

Show producers have long maintained that “ITV takes animal welfare very seriously and expert handlers are on hand at all times”.

Channel 4 has released a special schedule of programmes for this year’s Stand Up To Cancer campaign.

The aim of the annual event is to raise as much money as possible to fund life-saving research.

Not only can viewers enjoy several celebrity-themed versions of their favourite C4 shows, but they can also get their hands on fundraising packs, take part in nationwide activities and donate to the cause as they watch by calling 0300 123 4444, or texting “Thirty”, “Twenty” or “Ten” to 70404.

The joint national campaign with Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 has raised more than £62m since it launched in 2012. This has funded no less than 52 clinical trials, and projects involving 11,000 cancer patients across the country.

Here’s what you can expect to see on your TV screens this month as part of it.

Celebrity Gogglebox

Dani and Danny Dyer on Celebrity Googlebox 2018

A raft of new stars will be huddled around TV sets with some of the nation’s favourite reviewers for a sixth celebrity special.

The full line-up of those taking part is yet to be revealed, but past celebrities have included Noel Gallagher, Naomi Campbell, Steve Coogan, One Direction, Danny and Dani Dyer and more.

The first episode starts on Friday 13 September at 9pm.

Celebrity Hunted

The cast of Celebrity Hunted this season (Photo: C4/Press)

Eight household names will attempt the impossible and try to get lost in the UK as part of the Celebrity Hunted team for Stand Up To Cancer.

Father of the Prime Minister, Stanley Johnson, former Made In Chelsea star Georgia “Toff” Toffolo, Aldo Zilli, Jean-Christophe Novelli, Martin Offiah, Gavin Henson, and Towie stars Lucy Mecklenburgh and Lydia Bright will attempt to remain at large for two weeks while a team of professional investigators track them down.

Celebrity Hunted will air this Autumn on Channel 4, though scheduling date is yet to be announced.

Celebrity First Dates Hotel

Fred Sirieix is back to matchmake a new gang of lovebirds on location in Italy (Photo: Channel 4)

The First Dates hotel is ready to fling open its doors once more to four famous singletons to meet their potential love matches.

Set in the Italian countryside, manager Fred Sirieix and his hotel team of matchmakers will host the venue’s first ever celebrity special to raise money for cancer research.

Heading to the pool this year will be Blue singer Duncan James, who will make his first public appearance as a gay man. Former presenter Ulrika Jonsson will meet an unsuspecting member of the public, as will Towie star Pete Wicks and TV presenter AJ Odudu.

Celebrity First Dates Hotel will air this Autumn on Channel 4, though scheduling date is yet to be announced.

The Last Leg

Left to right: Show co-hosts: Josh Widdicombe, Adam Hills and Alex Brooker (Photo: Open Mike Productions)

Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe are back for a brand new series of their award-winning topical show The Last Leg.

They’ll be starting the season with a Stand Up To Cancer special, featuring a whole host of celebrity stars.

The Last Leg will air this Autumn on Channel 4, though scheduling date is yet to be announced.

Ryan Murphy has a whole plethora of new Netflix series in the pipeline, having signed a record $300m (£246m) deal with the streaming service.

The screenwriter, director and producer behind TV hits such as Glee, American Horror Story and Pose has been developing a wide-ranging new roster of projects, from dramas to documentaries.

The Roster

On 27 September, he releases The Politician. Starring Ben Platt, its a whip-smart, caustically funny series about an ambitious teenager running for high school office.

Murphy is next set to release Ratched, a dark and brooding origin story about Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The lead will be played by Sarah Paulson.

Nicole Kidman will star in The Prom (Photo: Getty)

A Murphy collection simply wouldn’t be complete without a smattering of musical remakes for the small screen too. Fans can expect adaptations of two Broadway shows: 10-part miniseries A Chorus Line; and The Prom, which will star Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep.

In May next year, he releases Hollywood, which aims to cast a lens inside show business and the sex industry, featuring Patti LuPone and Holland Taylor.
Plus, there’s a whole miniseries about the famous couturier Halston, who will be played by Ewan McGregor.

Documentaries galore

Take a quick breath, because the line-up of new offerings is far from finished – we have documentaries galore too.

Netflix has released the first full trailer of its thrilling new series Criminal ahead of its official launch on 20 September.

The 12-episode, four-part series plays out as an anthology of police interrogations.

Each part of the series is set in a different European country: Spain, France, Germany and the UK. And each episode, shot in similar-looking interrogation suites, albeit with different views out of the window depending which city it is set in and different cases.

Tennant stars

The trailer features former Doctor Who David Tennant refusing to comment on allegations that he murdered his teenage step-daughter.

We see Marvel star Hayley Atwell as she prepares to throw detectives questioning her on an as-of-yet unknown case off the scent.

David Tennant looks forlorn in Criminal trailer (Photo: Netflix)

Youssef Kerkour, of the Royal Shakespeare Company, also stars in the UK trailer. He plays a lorry driver with a suspect cargo facing the wrath of police questioning.

Netflix describes the show as a “stripped down cat-and-mouse drama” focusing on “the intense mental conflict between the police officer and the suspect in question.”

Character over production cost

The real difference to other similar crime dramas is this level of minimalism that allows the viewer to focus on the strength of the characters created and the performances of the actors playing them.

“We have so many big visual high-scale action dramas on our TVs to watch,” George Kay, a writer on Killing Eve who wrote the UK part of the Criminal series, told Variety.

Joining a fresh batch of celebrities who have cast aside their usual pursuits in favour of a the CelebrityMasterchef kitchen is the queen of colour, Zandra Rhodes.

Fashion designer Rhodes, who stands out with her signature bright pink bob, will be serving up a storm of creative cuisines alongside stars including Adam Woodyatt, Martha Reeves, Greg Rutherford and Kellie Maloney.

Judges Gregg Walllace and John Torode will be on hand once more to watch the famous-ish cooks battle it out.

But how did Rhodes become so well renowned away from the celebrity kitchen? Here’s everything you need to know about her.

She’s the oldest contestant on the show this year…

Born on 19 September 1940 in Chatham, Kent, Zandra is 78 years old.

Meeting footballer Neil Ruddock, also in the Celebrity Masterchef kitchen, made her realise quite how much lived experience she has compared to the other contestants.

“He’s 51 – but I actually went to the World Cup in 1966 – and Neil wasn’t even born!”

She’s a legendary fashion designer…

With more than five decades worth of experience, Zandra is an inimitable force in the fashion industry.

She opened her first boutique on Fulham Road in the mid-Sixties, selling her signature designs that feature flowing fabrics, bold colours and patterns.

Zandra was one of the British designers who put London truly on the map in the international fashion scene in the Seventies, too. She reached the height of her success in 1977 with a sophisticated take on punk style she called “Conceptual Chic”.

It featured a series of dresses with structured holes and beaded safety pins, fastened together to form a sort of embroidery. This was mixed with screen-printed silk jersey and a then newly developed fabric called “Ultrasuede”.

She is also the founder of Fashion and Textiles Museum in London, which opened in 2003.

Zandra Rhodes poses with models at her Zandra Rhodes presentation during London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2016/17 at ICA on February 20, 2016 in London (Photo: Getty)

She’s dressed some of the world’s most famous people…

Including Princess Diana, Elizabeth Taylor and the band Queen.

She’s actually a Dame…

She was bestowed the honour in 2015 for her services to the fashion industry.

Zandra has also been inducted into the Fashion Awards Hall of Fame.

Zandra Rhodes attends at Vogue 100: A Century Of Style at the National Portrait Gallery on February 9, 2016 in London (Photo: Getty)

She was in a relationship with the former President of Warner Bros for 25 years…

American film producer Salah Hassanein sadly died this year at the age of 98.

She’s made some surprising connections among the other contestants…

“I like Joey Essex very much,” she said. “He has a wonderful confidence about him and is very open and funny.”

Celebrity MasterChef runs for a total of 18 episodes on BBC One, airing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Deborah and Poppy are sent to work with Sister June on the colorectal ward, where they learn the realities of treating patients with colon and stomach diseases.

Sister Crystal supervises two volunteers on the head and neck ward, while Sister Nicola receives Will and Finn, two 19-year-old boys, to the cancer ward.

Why was the show filmed?

The experiment is based on a radical social scheme in Germany.

If the volunteers can make a difference to the busy ward, the scheme could be rolled out to prop up some areas of the NHS that remain woefully understaffed and underfunded.

It also serves to answer an important question: does anyone have what it takes to work in the care sector, or is it a certain type of person that is cut out for the emotional hardship of saving lives and providing for the sick?

Len McCluskey has indicated that Unite will work to protect any Labour MPs who vote for a new Brexit deal if they face deselection by party members for doing so.

The general secretary of the trade union, and a key ally of Jeremy Corbyn, even offered to defend MPs to the right of the current party’s socialist ideology.

Parliamentarians, Mr McCluskey said, should not be pilloried for backing Brexit and he would make is protest known to members if they wanted to deselect them on this basis.

Mr McCluskey, who continues to be skeptical of Labour’s support for a second referendum, went on to admit he believes that Theresa May and Mr Corbyn could have agreed on a deal. Now, however, he accepts that there are enough rebel Labour MPs who would break the whip and allow a new deal to pass in the Commons.

Trigger ballot threat

“They weren’t going to break the whip for no reason,” he told magazine Prospect on why more Labour MPs declined to vote for Mrs May’s deal. Those few didn’t think the deal stood any chance of passing anyway.

Now, MPs are facing “trigger ballots” in the autumn, during which members have an opportunity to vote for a full reselection in their constituencies. This could mean standing current MPs against alternative candidates.

Several MPs, including Sarah Champion, Stephen Kinnock and Gareth Snell, said they now regretted not voting for Theresa May’s deal.

Mr McCluskey said that Unite would have defended their decisions to do so if they had, and faced deselection as a result.

“I would have made my views known to our members within that constituency,” he said.

“I would have been prepared to publicly say: ‘Well hang on, if this is why you’re attacking this MP, then in my opinion you’re wrong.’”

A Johnson deal

He went on to say that he did not believe Boris Johnson would secure a deal ahead of the 31 October 2019. However, were the Prime Minister to present one to the Commons, he thinks more MPs could back it than Mrs May’s.

“If that happened, I think you’re right, but I don’t think it’s going to happen,” he continued.

Mr McCluskey has urged Labour to be prepared to support a Brexit deal, on the basis that it seemed to be impossible to stop otherwise.

He also said he believed there was no clear, democratic path for a second referendum.

‘Categorically untrue’

A spokesperson for the BRC said in a statement: “It is categorically untrue that the supply of fresh food will be unaffected under a no deal Brexit.

Michael Gove (Photo: PA)

“The retail industry has been crystal clear in its communications with Government over the past 36 months that the availability of fresh foods will be impacted as a result of checks and delays at the border. Indeed, the Government’s own assessments showed that the flow of goods through the channel crossings could be reduced by 40-60 per cent from day one, as would the ‘availability and choice’ of some foods.

“The BRC’s own assessment has shown that soft fruits and vegetables, such as strawberries, tomatoes and lettuces, would likely see reduced availability as they are largely imported during the winter months.”

They continue: “While retailers continue to work with their suppliers to maintain stocks of non-perishable goods and plan ahead for any disruption caused by a no deal Brexit, it is impossible to mitigate it fully as neither retailers nor consumers can stockpile fresh foods. The reality remains that a no deal Brexit in October would present the worst of all worlds for our high streets and those who shop there.

“Retailers will be preparing for Christmas, stretching already limited warehousing capacity, and the UK will be importing the majority of its fresh food from the EU, magnifying the impact of border delays.”

Value of food

After the referendum in June 2016, the fall in the value of sterling made imported foods more expensive by an average of 8.5 per cent.

According to Erik Millstone, a Professor of science policy and an expert in food safety policy, “a hard Brexit will make that problem worse”.

“A no deal Brexit, or even a hard Brexit, will result in delays in the delivery of such perishable products such as salads, soft fruits, fish and dairy products, which will become more expensive,” he told i in February.

Food prices will likely rise in the event of a no-deal Brexit (Photo: Reuters)

In December 2018, the Governor of the Bank of England estimated that food prices were set to rise between 5 per cent and 10 per cent after Brexit.

The UK also imports about 30 per cent if its food from the EU. Major UK retailers rely on “just-in-time” delivery systems for the imports, which are very sensitive to disruption at ports of entry, as they could be during a no-deal Brexit.

As a result of this, supermarkets have warned of empty shelves, which is why the Government has been stockpiling in some areas in preparation for Brexit.

Co-ordinating direct supplies

As competition law stands, it is currently illegal for them to do so, and those that do so risk heavy fines from the Competition and Markets Authority.

One retailer said: “At the extreme, people like me and people from government will have to decide where lorries go to keep food supply chains going. And in that scenario we’d have to work with competitors, and the Government would have to suspend competition laws.”

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has apologised to Poland for the “tyranny” of Nazi rule on the 80th anniversary of the start of World War Two.

Mr Steinmeier asked the country to forgive Germany, as he and other world leaders are in Poland to commemorate the beginning of the six-year conflict.

He further condemned the “desire to annihilate” that led to the violent outbreak in the country.

“I bow my head before the Polish victims of Germany’s tyranny. And I ask forgiveness,” Mr Steinmeier said, speaking in German and Polish at a ceremony in Wielun, where the first German bombs fell, on Sunday.

Act of barbarity

“Wielun was to show what kind of war it would be, that it would be a total war, a war without rules, a destructive war,” he said.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (2ndL) and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda attend ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of WWII, in Wielun on September 1, 2019. (Photo: Getty)

Other world leaders, including the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US Vice-President Mike Pence, will gather for a further ceremony in the Polish capital Warsaw later on Sunday.

Boris Johnson released the a video praising Poland’s “magnificent contribution to the struggle for freedom”:

80 years ago Hitler invaded Poland and triggered WWII, but the Polish people never succumbed to tyranny. We shall always remember their magnificent contribution to the struggle for freedom. #80WW2pic.twitter.com/HymoPlYO4G

About six million Polish citizens were killed during World War Two, suffering some of the worst losses of the global conflict.

Poland is still fighting for compensation from Germany for the devastation inflicted on the country 80 years ago.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, whose Law and Justice (PiS) party have been accused of stoking up nationalist sentiments in the country, has himself made recent calls for overdue reparations to be made.

The devastating start of global war

The German Luftwaffe (air force) bombed the city of Wielun in Poland at dawn on 1 September 1939.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier gives a speech during a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the World War II, in Wielun on September 1, 2019. (Photo: Getty)

Thousands lost their lives during the bombings, the purpose of which was to strike fear into the hearts of Polish civilians: the target they chose had no military relevance.

Britain gave Germany, then led by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, an ultimatum to cease military operations in the country.

After the ultimatum was ignored, Britain and France declared war on Germany on 3 September.

Senior politicians are calling on Boris Johnson to launch an urgent investigation into how his closest adviser, Dominic Cummings, was able to sack one the key advisers of Sajid Javid, the chancellor of the exchequer, without his knowledge.

After firing the aide to the chancellor, Mr Cummings ordered an armed police guard to escort her out of Downing Street in front of staff, according to reports.

According to The Observer, friends of Khan said she has been left very upset by the incident and is considering her next steps.

They went on to accuse Cummings of creating a “reign of terror” in government.

Mr Hammond is out of favour with the government due to his involvement in cross-party attempts to prevent a no-deal Brexit by passing new legislation when MPs return to Parliament for a week on Monday.

They hope to vote on a new law that mandates Mr Johnson to ask the EU for another extension of Article 50 if he fails to secure a deal ahead of the Brexit deadline on 31 October.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond leaves 11 Downing Street on July 23, 2019 in London (Photo: Getty)

Chancellor’s confrontation

Mr Javid is thought to have confronted Johnson in a heated clash over Ms Khan’s sacking on Friday, though has since said that his relationship with the Prime Minister remains strong despite the disagreement.

Speaking to The Observer, former attorney general Dominic Grieve described accounts of the sacking, which have not been denied by No 10, as “deeply troubling”.

“It was wrong for the police to get involved, ” he added.

He added that it was up to the Prime Minister to explain why “ordinary principles of fair behaviour have broken down in his office, and hold an inquiry by the cabinet secretary”.

‘Advisers must not abuse their power’

“Government advisers must not abuse their power by drawing the police into heavy- handed political stunts,” Yvette Cooper, Labour chair of the House of Commons home affairs select committee, continued.

“This needs to be reviewed by the cabinet secretary and the Metropolitan police straight away.”

Lord Turnbull, the former cabinet secretary, agreed that it was up to Downing Street to explain Mr Cummings’s authority.

“Getting one of the armed police to escort an adviser out of Downing Street is deeply offensive and is part of Cummings’s mantle of fear,” he said.

Lord Kerslake, the former head of the home civil service, also called for an urgent inquiry.

More than 80 marches and rallies were planned up and down the country by campaign groups including Another Europe Is Possible and Momentum, which called on its members to “occupy bridges and blockade roads” as part of the action.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn joins hundreds of protestors during a ‘Stop the Coup’ protest in George Square on August 31, 2019 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo: Getty)

He spoke to crowds gathered in George Square in Glasgow, where hundreds of people waved Saltires, EU flags and handmade signs. Protesters also heard from the SNP’s Keith Brown, Scottish Labour’s Paul Sweeney Scottish Greens candidate Patrick Harvey.

Britain’s Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (C) gives a thumbs up as he attends to address a protest against the government’s move to suspend parliament in the final weeks before Brexit in Glasgow on August 31, 2019 (Photo: Getty Images)A demonstrator holds up a placard as they join a protest against the British government’s move to suspend parliament in the final weeks before Brexit in Glasgow on August 31, 2019. (Photo: Getty)Demonstrators with placards join a protest against the move to suspend parliament in the final weeks before Brexit in Glasgow on August 31, 2019. (Photo: Getty)

In London, shadow home secretary Diane Abbott was among the speakers rousing the crowds at the #StopTheCoup march on Whitehall.
Protesters shouted “shame on Boris” as they progressed to Downing Street before continuing to Trafalgar Square, where of people stopped traffic in central London by sitting down in the roads and refusing to move.

Demonstrators holds up placards as they join a protest against the British government’s move to suspend parliament in the final weeks before Brexit in Glasgow on August 31, 2019. (Photo: Getty)Demonstrators hold up placards at a protest against the move to suspend parliament in the final weeks before Brexit outside Downing Street in London on August 31, 2019. (Photo: Getty)

A small presence of far right and pro-Brexit demonstrators were separated by the majority by police, with demonstrators yelling “there’s nothing wrong with immigration” at the tops of their voices as they passed.

Remain and Leave demonstrators confront each other during a protest in Westminster on August 31, 2019 (Photo: Getty)A pro-Brexit supporter waves a British flag in Westminster on August 31, 2019 in London, England. (Photo: Getty)Anti-Brexit signs are seen discarded after a protest in Westminster on August 31, 2019 in London, England. (Photo: Getty)Remain and Leave demonstrators confront each other during a protest in Westminster on August 31, 2019 in London, England. (Photo: Getty)

In Manchester, left-wing journalist and campaigner Paul Mason led rather more soggy proceedings in Cathedral Gardens, where protesters let off smoke bombs.

Demonstrators let off flares during the Stop The Coup Protest in Cathedral Gardens in Manchester (Photo: Getty)Demonstrators hold placards during the Stop The Coup Protest in Cathedral Gardens on August 31 in Manchester (Photo: Getty)Paul Mason speaks Stop The Coup Protest in Cathedral Gardens on August 31, 2019 in Manchester (Photo: Getty)Demonstrators hold placards during the Stop The Coup Protest in Cathedral Gardens on August 31, 2019 in Manchester (Photo: Getty)A sausage dog wears a high visibility vest during the Stop The Coup Protest in Cathedral Gardens on in Manchester on 31 August. (Photo: Getty)

International protests in solidarity with the UK took place in Amsterdam, Berlin and Riga.

Sizeable marches were also held in Brighton, Birmingham, Belfast, Aberdeen, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield, Swindon and York.

Questions, he said, are now being raised not simply about what of Brexit the UK is set to endure, but what kind of Britain will be left after it.

Speaking at the launch of the Our Scottish Future think tank in Edinburgh, Mr Brown said the UK constitution was being “shredded”.

He said: “Only four weeks into his premiership, Boris Johnson is not only shredding our constitution but tearing the country apart with no plan to bring people together again and no unifying national project to ever do so.”

‘Broken into pieces’

He continued: “Today I see a Britain that has never been so divided – Leavers versus Remainers, north versus south, cities versus towns, young versus older – a Britain now being broken into pieces by competing nationalisms.

“We now have Scotland-first nationalism, England-first, Northern Ireland-first and Wales-first nationalisms – all challenging the very idea of one United Kingdom and creating divisions.”
The suspension of Parliament is set to come into effect between 9 September and 12 September until 14 October.

Critics of the Prime Minister’s decision to prorogue Parliament argue that Mr Johnson is attempting to force a no-deal Brexit by limiting the time that MPs have to vote on legislation to prevent it, or to bring forward a vote of no confidence in the government.

However, Mr Johnson said that it was “completely untrue” to suggest that Brexit was the reason for the suspension of Parliament, claiming instead it was to prepare his agenda ahead of the Queen’s speech.

Mr Brown went on to describe the dilemma the government has left Scotland in.

‘Two nationalisms’

“Scotland is now trapped between two nationalisms: Boris Johnson’s, which is anti-European and ignoring Scotland’s interests — and Nicola Sturgeon’s, which is now so hardline that she now proposes to exit the U.K. customs union, abandon the UK single market and ditch the U.K. pound,” he said.

Is there a trailer?

What are we set to expect from the plot?

Those who do not like any form of spoilers – and who have not yet seen Season 2 – we advise you to look away now.

Season 2 ended in a dramatic and harrowing scene, as Tyler Down is sexually assaulted by Montgomery De La Cruz and his indignant jock friends.

Tyler then takes an assault rifle and heads to the Spring Fling in order to seek revenge, but Clay intercepts him and manages to convince him to drop the weapon just as the police arrive.

Meanwhile, Bryce walks free from court with only three months of probation following standing trial for the rape of Hannah and her friend Jessica.

(Photo: Beth Dubber/Netflix)

From the trailer, we can see that somebody kills the school rapist, Bryce Walker, leading the series to end up being a whodunnit.

Bryce’s girlfriend Chloe also found out she is pregnant in the last series.

“I think [the topic of abortion could be covered] and it would be interesting to see how they handle it, because from my point of view, Bryce comes from a powerful family and they have a way of making things disappear, so I don’t know,” Justin Prentice, who plays Bryce, toldDigital Spy.

Speaking at a Netflix For Your Consideration panel, creator Yorkey added: “It’s a question of, is there more story to tell, do we want to see these kids not only continue to recover, but, how do they bring forward into their lives the thing they’ve learned about what they’ve been through?”

Who is in the cast of Season 3?

Again, the details on this are sparse, but reports suggest we will certainly see Dylan Minnette, who plays Clay, in Season 3.

As for Katherine Langford, who plays Hannah Baker, we’re not yet sure.

Hannah Baker in 13 Reasons Why (Photo: Netflix)

“The loss of Hannah will continue to be the inciting traumatic event for this group of kids and parents. It will always be part of the story,” Yorkey continued.

“But I don’t see a tremendous continued presence for Hannah because I think we needed her to finish telling everyone else’s side of her story and we needed her so that Clay could get to a point of saying, ‘I love you and I let you go’. If the story does continue, and certainly there is lots more to know about a lot of these characters, then the spotlight focus on Hannah Baker is probably done.”

Why has there been so much controversy around 13 Reasons Why?

The graphic scene in which the character Hannah Baker takes her own life has been heavily criticised.

Suicide prevention charity The Samaritans praised Netflix’s recent decision to remove that particular segment from Season 1 of the series in July.

Executive Lead of the Samaritans Media Advisory service Lorna Fraser told the RadioTimes.com:

“We raised our concerns over the content and have been working with the Netflix team here in the UK to provide advice on the safe portrayal of suicide, including viewer support and signposting to helplines such as Samaritans.

“While covering difficult topics in drama can help to increase understanding and encourage people to seek help, it’s important this is done in a responsible way, due to the evidenced risks associated with covering this topic in the media. Programme makers should always seek advice from experts on the portrayal of suicide, to ensure any risk to vulnerable viewers is minimised.”

However, others have condemned producers decisions to leave in equally graphic and potentially triggering scenes of rape and sexual assault. Netflix warnings already state at the content within the series may be upsetting to some viewers.

The new season will also allow viewers to access a database of crisis resources.

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123 or 020 7734 2800.

Men are more likely to victim-blame women who are sexually harassed because they have greater empathy with perpetrators, new research suggests.

According to researchers from the universities of Exeter, Bath and Queensland, Australia, male students demonstrated more understanding with the male harasser than they did the female victim.

It had previously been thought that victim-blaming was caused by a lack of empathy towards the victim, but the authors of this study said that identifying with the male harasser was a stronger and more consistent indicator in the data they collected.

They examined the responses of more than 100 students from Queensland to a “clear-cut” scenario in which a male student harassed a female student over a prolonged period of time.

In the scenario, when the victim reported his behaviour, he admitted to the majority of her accusations.

The students were also asked to take either the perpetrator or victim’s perspective.

Regardless of their gender, those who took the perspective of the perpetrator were more likely to victim-blame the female student.

The darker side of empathy

Researchers suggest that the findings of the study, which was published in the journal Psychology of Women Quarterly, indicates a darker side to empathy.

“Accusations of ingroup wrong-doing, as in the case of a man’s sexual harassment of a woman, may pose a threat to men’s sense of their gender group as moral,” it reads.

“To reduce this threat, men may afford male perpetrators the benefit of the doubt and interpret events in a way that is biased towards that perpetrator’s perspective.

The study went on to suggest that the fear of being blamed for harassment contributes to the low rate of reporting by victims (Photo: Unsplash)

“Men may believe, for example, that the male perpetrator did not mean to cause harm, that what occurred was based on a misunderstanding, or that the allegations are false accounts that are frequently provided by men defending allegations of sexual harassment in court.”

The study went on to suggest that the fear of being blamed for harassment contributes to the low rate of reporting by victims.

It stressed that the scenario used was a “clear-cut” example of harassment, indicating the possibility that less straightforward cases could lead to increased empathy with the male perpetrator.

Challenging myths and biases

To help reduce empathy for male offenders, researchers propose challenging myths that women provoke sexual harassment from men or are dishonest about their experiences.

They recommend challenging media reports that give “undue prominence” to the professional accomplishment of male offenders, as well as detail as to how their lives will be negatively effected.

Furthermore, when harassment occurs in institutional settings, training should be provided to male decision-makers to make them aware of their potential bias towards perpetrators.

It concludes by saying that the findings may help to explain why there continues to be such a lack of support for victims of sexual and domestic abuse.

“It would be valuable to examine whether concern for the perpetrator’s predicament-in addition to a lack of empathy for victims-can help explain inadequate support received by victims more generally,” it reads.

It would require Tory MPs to bring down their own government for the vote to pass.

Speaking to Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday, energy minister Mr Kwarteng said that the claims contained “lots of ifs and hypotheticals”.

Accepting the ‘letter of the law’

On concerns that Mr Johnson would attempt to stay on as leader if he lost a vote of no confidence, Mr Kwarteng said: “I’m sure the prime minister will accept the letter of the law.”

He addressed fears that Mr Johnson could potentially shut down parliament in the run-up to Brexit in order to stop further delays to the event, adding: “We’re not talking about proroguing parliament.”

“I don’t think anyone is talking about calling an election,” he continued on another potential scenario that would allow Mr Johnson to go ahead with a no-deal Brexit unchallenged.

Mr Johnson will meet Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron before heading to the G7. (Photo: Getty)

Labour’s shadow minister Laura Pidcock talked up the credentials of Jeremy Corbyn as an interim prime minister, should the sitting PM lose a vote.

Claims made by Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson that Mr Corbyn was not the right person to lead the country were “arrogant”, Ms Pidcock said, as she “doesn’t have such a mandate in parliament”.

Johnson heads to Europe

Gina Miller, meanwhile, intervened in the debate to claim she has proof from a government lawyer that Mr Johnson could not prevent MPs from meeting to debate Brexit even if he does prorogue parliament.

This week, Mr Johnson will travel to Germany and France, where it is thought he will encourage leaders to remain open to a new deal to “replace the failed” offer former prime minister Theresa May negotiated originally.

However, Downing Street has briefed reporters that there is unlikely to be much discussion of Brexit on the trips, with other pressing topics being the focus of the visits.

Priti Patel has announced that children as young as 12 could be placed under curfews as part of tough new powers given to the courts to tackle knife crime.

The Home Secretary said that anyone aged 12 and over who is suspected by the police to be carrying a blade could find themselves subject to a series of restrictions, including preventing them from interacting with certain people, and banned from certain areas.

The rules will form part of the Offensive Weapons Act, the draft guidance of which is set to be published on Thursday.

“We are cracking down on violent crime, which has a devastating impact on victims, their families, and our communities,” Ms Patel said.

“Our Offensive Weapons Act will help to stop acids and knives making their way onto our streets and being used to carry out horrifying attacks.”

Knife crime

As he took office last month, one of the first announcements Prime Minister Boris Johnson made was a recruitment drive for an extra 20,000 more police officers over the next three years.

More than 100 MPs from are calling on Boris Johnson to recall parliament at a time of “national emergency”.

The letter, sent to the Prime Minister and signed by Conservatives Guto Bebb and Dominic Grieve, among others, demands more time to scrutinise the new government ahead of an increasingly likely no-deal Brexit at the end of October.

“Since the Second World War, parliament has been recalled multiple times in every decade for a wide range of political, security and economic reasons,” it read.

“Our country is on the brink of an economic crisis, as we career towards a no-deal Brexit which will have an immediate effect on food and medical supplies, damage our economy, jobs, the public finances, public services, universities and long-term economic security.

National emergency

Dominic Grieve (Photo: PA Wire)

The Speaker, John Bercow, has the power to recall parliament, which is usually done at the request of the government.

“We face a national emergency, and parliament must be recalled now in August and sit permanently until 31 October, so that the voices of the people can be heard, and that there can be proper scrutiny of your government.”

Pleased to join MPs from across the House in signing this letter to demand PM recalls Parliament

This a national emergency. There is no mandate for a reckless No Deal #Brexit. Johnson & Cummings want to gag our democracy

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